THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1892.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9335, 28 January 1892, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1892.

In a recent sermon preached on the occasion of the opening of a new Koman Catholic Church at Milton Bi3Uop Moran devoted himself to the task of attacking the education system of the colony That task _ must be to him a somewhat wearisome one, and if not so to him it can scarcely fail to be so to hearers and readers. We hare not felt called ■upon to publish the sermon, because— and _we are sorry to be compelled to say it—it really was not worthy of the space. ( It was almost from bosinnincr to end a tirade of abuse of the existin* system of education, of those wbo uphold it, and generally of every person who does not happen to fall in wilh the views of the Bishop upon this particular question. He never for a moment managed to get out of the old and wellworn ruts. The schools were "god less ; Catholics wers defrauded, and something worse than defrauded in being compelled to support them • they must "wmg" justice from their oppressors by the use of the only weapon likely to be of any avail—the block vote. Wholly ignoring every other question, however important, this vUe should be given to the candidate who would promise a sectarian grant t f public money. Where all the candldates were opposed to such a grant Catholics abstain from votim' altogether. This was the sum and substance of what the Bishop had to say and to advise on the education question

It seems odd that a man of the intellectual calibre of Bishop Moran should not be able to recognise that if our school sjsem is to be altered ir must be as the result of arguments addressed to the intelligence of the community, and i.ot by ravings which would scarcely he creditable to a third, rate politician in the he it of a *w e-al demon. It isicartaiuly surprising too, that the Bwhop should overlook the fact that gross and palpable exaggeration of statement is caiculat-d to dr. stroy all confidence in his judgm.^ atid, j>y so doing, defeat (he end «.e las m view, Take as a specimen thai

Bishop's statement of the position of the contending candidates sit th« recent Wellington election. In. that contest, he says, " the pit: ablo scene was presented of some Oa!holies roring on ono side and some on the othi-r. Both candidates were pledged against them; both were declared eaemies. Both candidates said in effect: ' We will take your money in spite of you nnd spend it on educating other people's children.' Both said:' Wo have our heels on your necka and will keep them there.' Both said:' We will spurn you liko spaniels.' Both said : ' We will spit in your face ; we have not common respect for you.'" It would surely asfonish and alarm Messrs McLean and 8011, the candidates at the election in question, to know that "in (ffect" they were so narrow, so intolerant, so malicious, and so intensely vulgar. Is ifc then not possible for one man (o differ from another without in effect " putting his heel on his neck and spitting in his face?" What the Wellington candidates really did in effect say was that there was "a difference of opinion on tho subject of aid to denominational schools, and that they themselves were among those who thought no such aid should be given. Surely it is not too much to ask that towards the close of the nineteenth century a man should be allowed to make a simple statement of the kind without calling down upon his head such a shower of clerical billingsgate as Bishop Moran appears to keep, in stock for those who differ from him in opinion. The reason why Kew Zealand adheres to the secular system of education is because a mnjority of the people are of that way of thinking. Bishop Moran is of another way "of thinking. Let him convert the' minority ■ into a uaajority by al! means; but in order to do so it is essential that he should use the weapons of modern civilisation, which he will find much more potent m his hands than the shillelah-like rhetoric of Donnybrook Fair. Asa moans of securing aid to the Catholic schools the advice given by the Bishop to The Catholics of New Zealand \3 as mischievous as it i 3 inefft ctive. The block vote i.i to be given to thote who are prepared to grant denominational aid, and against such as refuse it; while Catholics are urged to abstain from voting where in this particular they have nothing to expect from any candidate. The conduct of such as voted at the Wellington election is denounced as "unworthy of men." For the mere act of voting they are stigmatised as lacking in "manliness" and "selfrespect." It seems to. us that the very spirit of manliness and self, respect, is calculated to revolt against such offensive dictation as this. To teach people that there is only one question within the whole domain of the polity of a nation worth considering, and that if they cannot have their own way in that" they are to deliberately disfranchise themselves i« surelya doctrine against which common sense as well as self-interest must revolt. TJ«e Catholic church Is in the very forefront of those who do battle against the doctrines of the new Socialism. Does Bighop Moran realh mean that Catholics are to stand by with their hands in thwr pocket while the advocates of such doctrine* are endeavouring to foist th. m upon the community ? Ar.d if he would not urge such a line of conduct in the face of a superior, how can it be a right or just one in View of arv inferior, evil? And if the Bishop thus hastily and thoughtlessly tenders such advice upon one point of policy, how can ho expect to ha regarded as a safe or prudent guide upon others ? As for the block volo, ifc is j«sfc as. likely to | proyeas ineffective as it is unjustifiable If it is so very powerful n weapon-on one side it must bo the same on the other, so that the whole question resolves itself-agnin into one of majori ties. It 13 leading Catholics very much astray to teach them that the\ are the only persons who have to suffer undera forced contribution to a system of which they do not approve or which they violently dislike : A State system of education of auy kind whatever ha« got its opponent?, but they are com pelled to contribute to its support. Persons who I aye no children to educate must support education. "Freetraders have to suffer under the yoke of a P.otectioni-.t policy, and Protectionists under that of Froetrade. Minorities have to bear the cost of a representative system which leave? them, as they consider, practically disfranchised. All these could sulk in their homes during an election as Achilles sulked in his tent, but by refusing to fight they only injure theirown cause and assist the enemy. Ifc is jus! as well that Bishop Moran has spoken his mind to freely. T-e fact can scarcely fail to force the Catholics of Otag-o to ask themselves the question wnether it .is consistent with their political and social independence that they should be for ever assumed to be under priestly dicfatioa. That ques turn is now being asked from one end ot Ireland to the o!her, and if if extends to this colony it must be held to be largely due to the intemperate utterances of Bishop Moran

The recommendations of the Laud Board respecting the method of dealing with Otago runs, the leases of which expire in February of next year, are published elsewhere in this issue -The consideration of this matter was taken in committee, and the result was, by the decision ol the board, not made available for publication until yesterday morning. At the meeting ol the Land Board yesterday the business was ol an ordinary character, and the more important matters were adjourned, to be dealt with at a future meeting. The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees was held yesterday and attended by Messrs g olomon (chairmau)j H Wilson, Chisholm, Green, and Isaac. Accounts amounting to Lite 6s 2d were passed for payment. The chairman reported that the amount paid for the maintenance of the institution for the month of December was L2S4 14s 2d There were 299 inmates in the institution, the cost of whose maintenance was 5s OJdper head per week. The secretary reported that John Kankm, 76 years of age, died in the institution on Sunday last of" apoplexy. A number of applications for relief were dealt with.

The many friends and admirers of Mr S. R fctedmau, the well-known cyclist, will regret to" hear that he met with a very serious accident, ttnich was very nearly proving fatal, on Tuesday morning at Elmgrovo farm. As it is, his racing career is probably at an end, and that just as he was in excellent form for the championship meeting to be held in Christcnurch next week. Mr Stedman had been superintending the sinking of a pump with a derrick and monkey, and was in the act of fixing a new length of tubing when the man winding up the monkey carelessly wound it too high and it trigged, coming down with almost the full bI QW on Stedman's head, which was driven almost into the shoulders. The force of the blow may be imagined when it is stated that the monkey weighed 2cwt. Stedman was unconscious for some 30 hours. He was attended to by Dr Allen, and last night he was unable to move a muscle. He will not be able to leave for his home sit Riecarton for some few cloys.

Yosterday afternoon n boy named William Flyim had a narrow escape from flrowniii" in the Felichct Bay baths. Being unable" to swim, he had in some way got out of his depth, and had sunk once, when fortunately the batlr keoper (Mr E. J. Gibb) noticed him, and hurriedly stripping coat and waistcoat, plunged in to the rescue. Mr Gibb deserves credit for his promptitude, as it was by no means an easy task for him, partly dressed and encumbered with boots, to bring the boy to shallow water It seems that there are no lifebuoys with rones provided at these baths-an oversight that should be promptly rectified. The general meeting of the West Taieri River Board, held on Saturday, was attended by Messrs Chisholm, Andrews" Bathgatc and Robertson. Mr Chisholm was voted to the cha.r. The clerk reported that since the last SS7 r rfV nßtalment °f Principal, and Ll3B & 6d, interest on loan, had been paid winch caused the account to be overdrawn by WJ. It was unanimously agreed that the clerk give those in arrears with their rates H days' notice and if not paid by that time to take egal steps fortheir recovery. An account from the Treasury, Wellington, for Ll2 10s lid interest on loan from the Government* of L5Ol 18s 4d, was passed for payment. Mr Chisholm was appointed treasurer during the absence of

According to the Taieri Advocate, settlers in he Berwick^and Maungatua district are carting the,r wool to Dunedin, and save 6d per bale Henley""" 1 ""* *"" chargl from

A large number of those interested in the erectionof a building for . Baptist churcha Kaikora, assembled on Monday on the freeJold site acquired. Short addresses were deWed by the Revs. J. T. Hinton, A. North, Messrs Ings, p. Grahaln> and j stewart) several hymns were sung, after which a bottle contammg the daily papers, the last number of the New Zealand Baptist newspaper, and several interesting papers connected with the history and working of the cause, was placed Mr V a T w-\ thC COnCrete f-ndationw n Mr W. J Wnght is the contractor, and Mr G W- , G°. Uf architect. It is intended to open

Harvesting has commenced in the Taieri (says the Advocate) on the hillside land In some eases the oats are being cut to save the crop from the small birds. Further south barley crops are numerous and good. The lapanui Courier reports that the fields are looking splendid in every part of the district The general complaint is that there will be too much straw, and in a few quarters very heavy patches have been laid by the constant rains Ihe turnip crop if an y thing has a IWetoo much moisture but the general yield should be good. The Rjverton Star reports that the crops in that district are looking well, and although much of the oat straw is sft and over it appears to be heavily laden with grain. Some good feed wheat is also to be seen, while turnips are m abundance, and looking well.

On Friday last a trial of the new Lowdown Buckeye reaper and binder was held on Mr James M'Colt's farm, Brighton. There was a large attendance of farmers from the neighbourhood, several of whom signed a testimonial 5.n neX^ 6°f the W°rk done- and Mes«s M Coll, Davy, Walker, and others purchased similar machines. The crop operated, on was one of green oats from sft to 7ft in height, and very heavy. '

Another exhibition of Edison's famous talking machine-the phonograph-was given at the Cty Hall last evening before a fairly l arge audience. Mr G. Kellygave «„ interesting and ably delivered discpurse on the working of the apparatus and recited the many uses to which it could b 5 put. Practical illustrations were then given, and a number of entirely new records" were reproduced, amongst the latter being a comet duet played into the machine yesterday. The Rev. Dr Stuart spoke a few sentences into the machine, which were at once dwtmetly reproduced. The proceedings were pleasmg^ diversified by recitations delivered by Mr Kelly, one of which, "The Lifeboat" was particularly well received. The phono graph will be on exhibition again this evening. There was again a good attendance at the Princess Theatre last night, when the pantoimnie "Little Bill and His Ship Amazon» was produced for the third time by Miss Amy Vaughan's Burlesque Company. The performance was gone through with as great a measure of success as formerly, and appeared to be much appreciated by the audience. To-night which is the last occasion but one on which the" pantomime will be produced, there will be a complete change of the incidental songs and dances.

Mr H. M. Stanley is meeting with great success m Chnstchurch, many being unable to gam admission each night. Speaking o f his openmg lecture, the Press in a leading article Z^'fTJ" 5 th6re a greater BUl^ than that which was in store for the audience rhe lecture was full of picturesque description and v lV id pourtrayal of incident and adventure This the audience was no doubt prepared for. What most of them were not expecting was the dramatic fire with which the story waS; told and, above all, the vein, of quiet humour which cropped up here and there in all directions » To-night Mr Stanley makes his last appearance in the City of the Plains, leaving f or the south to-morrow. The plan of seats for the course of lectures to be delivered in Duuedin will be opened at Wise, Caffin, and Co.'s this morning.

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